Dispensing bottles



1953 E. A. ZACKHEIM DISPENSING BOTTLES Filed April 16, 1956 INVENTOR ELIA. ZACKHEIM.

PKOLNEY DISPENSENG BOTTLES Eli A. Zackheirn, South Plainfield, N. J.,assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationApril 16, 1956, Serial No. 578,297 14 Claims. (Cl. 141--24) Thisinvention relates to improvements in dispensing bottles.

The general object of the invention is to provide a dispensing bottleequipped with, or usable with, a dropper in which loss due to spillage,when the bottle is accidentally overturned, is minimized, as also dangerof drinking of the contents by small children.

A dispensing bottle embodying the invention in a preferred form will nowfirst be described with reference to the accompanying drawing and thefeatures forming the invention will then be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central or axial section of a bottle embodying the inventionin a preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with a stopper and dropperelement removed;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the bottle inverted;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. fication; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom elevational view of the bottle of Fig. 5.

The bottle 16 of Fig. 1 may be of glass and otherwise of usualconstruction and shape. Fitted in the neck and in sealing relationthereto is a well tube 11 which may have a narrowed tip 12 and enlargedupper end 13, the upper end 13 fitting in the bottle neck, as indicated.The well tube 11 is conveniently made of polyethylene 1, but showing amodior other somewhat resilient material, at least as to the upper end13, so that the upper end forms a plug or stopper effectively sealing tothe bottle neck by pressure contact along the engaging or abuttingsurface 14. The tip 11 may have a flange 16 to limit its downward or inward movement and seating on the topof the bottle 10, as indicated.

Fitting comfortably within the tube 11 is a barrel or body portion 17 ofthe dropper and cap assembly 18, which body portion may be of glass,polyethylene or any other suitable material. The uper end of the dropperassembly 18 comprises an elastic bulb 19 secured to a bottle cap element20, which may be a screw cap, as shown, being internally threaded to fitthe usual thread 21 molded in the bottle neck. The bulb 19 may be ofrubber and the cap 20 of suitable comparatively rigid material, thesetwo elements being assembled together by molding a groove 22 in the bulbwithin which the top of the cap 20 surrounding a simple aperture 23 isaccommodated, the bulb 19 having sufiicient elasticity to permitsnapping the parts together. The dropper barrel 17 is formed with anoutwardly extending rim or flange 25 received within an internal groove26 of the bulb 19, the bulb element 19 below the groove fitting thebarrel 17 at 27, as indicated. As will be understood, the material ofthe bulb element 19 is sufiiciently elastic to permit insertion of thebarrel 17 through the opening at 27. The groove 26 is preferablyelongated in the axial di- States Patent Q F 2,845,963 Patented Aug. 5,1958 rection, as shown, and fits the rim or flange of the barrel 17. Inthe initial assembly, the dropper element 18 is assembled together withthe bottle 10, with the rim 25 in a downward position in the groove 26,so that when the tip 28 of the barrel 17 engages the bottom of thebottle, further screwing on of the cap 20 will locate the rim 25 at theproper position along the groove 26 for positioning the barrel tip 28 incontact with the bottom of the bottle when the cap is screwed on thebottle. In this way, the tip of each dropper may be brought to thebottom of the bottle, despite variation in the vertical dimensions ofnormally available bottles. To permit liquid access, the tip 28 isnotched as indicated at 29.

When the bottle is full or substantially so, the level 30 around thewell tube 11 may be about as indicated in Fig. 1, while the level 31within the well tube 11 may be much lower and may also be about asindicated. Since any rise in the level 31 involves a drop in the level30 and a corresponding increase in volume in the trapped air space abovethis level within the bottle 10 and around the well tube 11, the welltube 11 may be practically empty while the bottle around the well tubeis practically full.

The removal of the stopper or dropper element 18, as indicated in Fig.2, does not essentially change conditions, the liquid levels remainingabout the same. If now the bottle is inverted, as indicated in Fig. 3, asmall amount of liquid within the well tube 11 will be discharged, plussuch small amount as may enter this tube during the tipping movement.However, once the bottle is inverted, the liquid level 30 (Fig. 3) willnow be below the open end of the tube 11, so that there would be nofurther escape of the contents. As will be apparent, loss of liquid dueto tipping as well as danger of drinking an excess and dangerous dose bychildren or others from the bottle is minimized.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a

bottle 40 having a rounded inside bottom 41 is utilizedfit forming asealing engagement with the inside of the bottle neck along the surface44. In this case, the upper end of the well tube 42 may serve todetermine the depth to which the tube of the dropper barrel 45 goesWithin the bottle. The dropper is shown as of a conical shape,terminating as before in an upper flange 46 which snaps into a grooveformed in the inner Wall of the resilient bulb element 47. The latterhas a snug fit within the cap 48 engaging the inner wall 49 of the topaperture therein, and is held in position vertically with respect to thecap by means of a lower flange 50, as indicated. The cap and bottle arecorrespondingly threaded, as before.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening, a well tube fitting in the neck opening in sealedrelation thereto and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottomof the bottle so as to separate the interior of the bottle generallyinto a space within the well tube and a space outside it, a cap fittingthe bottle in sealing relation thereto and comprising a dropper having abarrel accommodated within the well tube, the tip of the dropper barrelbeing also adjacent the bottom of the bottle when the cap is in positionon the bottle.

2. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening, a well tube fitting in the neck opening in sealedrelation thereto and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottomof the bottle so as to separate the interior of the bottle generallyinto a space within the well tube and a space outside it, a cap fittingthe bottle in sealing relation thereto and comprising a dropper having abarrel accommodated within the well tube, the tip of the dropper barrelextending closer to the bottom of the bottle than the well tube when thecap is in position on the bottle.

3. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening, a well tube fitting in the neck opening in sealedrelation thereto and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottomof the bottle so as to separate the interior of the bottle generallyinto a space within the well tube and a space outside it, while leavingspace for flow between said spaces below a predetermined level, a capfitting the bottle in sealing relation thereto and comprising a dropperhaving a barrel accommodated within the well tube, the tip of thedropper barrel being below the said level when the cap is in position onthe bottle.

4. A dispensing liquid container according to claim 3, in which thebottom of the well tube has a configuration different from the bottom ofthe bottle, whereby the well tube may abut against the bottom of thebottle while leaving said space for flow.

5. A dispensing liquid container according to claim 3, in which thelower end of the well tube is notched so as to provide said space forflow.

6. A dispensing liquid container according to claim 3, in which the tipof the dropper barrel is notched to permit flow into the dropper barrelwhen it is in contact with the bottom of the bottle.

7. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening, a well tube fitting in the neck opening in sealedrelation thereto and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottomof the bottle so as to separate the interior of the bottle generallyinto a space within the well tube and a space outside it, a dropperhaving a barrel accommodated within the well tube and abutment meansengaging the neck of the bottle to limit the insertion of the dropper,the tip of the dropper barrel being also adjacent the bottom of thebottle when the abutment means is in engagement with the bottle neck.

8. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening and having a concave bottom, a well tube fittingin the neck opening in sealed relation thereto and extending downwardlyto a point adjacent the deepest part of the bottom of the bottle so asto separate the interior of the bottle generally into a space within thewell tube and a space outside it, a cap fitting the bottle andcomprising a dropper having a barrel accommodated within the well tube,the tip of the dropper barrel being also adjacent the 4 bottom of thebottle when the cap is in position on the bottle.

9. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening, a well tube fitting in the neck opening in sealedrelation thereto and extending downwardly to a point adjacent the bottomof the bottle so as to separate the interior of the bottle generallyinto a space within the well tube and a space outside it, while leavingspace for flow between said spaces below a predetermined level, a capfitting the bottle and comprising a dropper having a barrel accommodatedwithin the well tube, the dropper comprising a bulb and barrel holdingelements receiving and frictionally holding the upper end of the barrel,whereby the barrel position in the bottle may be adjusted to bring itstip in contact with the bottom of the bottle when the cap is in positionthereon.

10. A dispensing liquid container according to claim 9, in which the tipof the dropper barrel has a configuration different from the bottom ofthe bottle, whereby the said tip may abut against the bottom of thebottle while leaving space for flow into the barrel.

11. A dispensing liquid container according to claim 9, in which the tipof the dropper barrel is notched to permit flow into the dropper barrelwhen it is in contact with the bottom of the bottle.

12. A dispensing liquid container according to claim 9, in which thebarrel holding element has an internal groove and the barrel has anupper flange frictionally fitting therein and slidable axially thereof.

13. A dispensing liquid container comprising, in combination, a bottlehaving a neck opening, a cap fitting the bottle and comprising a dropperhaving a barrel extending within the bottle, the dropper comprising abulb and means for holding the barrel in operative relation thereto, thelast said means comprising a member having an internal groove and aflange on the barrel frictionally fitting therein and slidably axiallythereof, whereby the barrel position in the bottle may be adjusted tobring its tip in predetermined relation to the bottom of the bottle whenthe cap is in position thereon.

14. A dispening liquid container according to claim 13, in which thebarrel length from tip to flange exceeds the distance from the bottom ofthe bottle to the said groove, whereby placing the cap in position onthe bottle will force the barrel upwardly so as to locate the saidflange in the groove at the proper position for bringing the tip of thebarrel into contact with the bottom of the bottle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

